A Greek Coast Guard drone watches over Greta Thunberg’s Gaza Flotilla
Humanitarian Ship Madleen Rescues Sudanese Refugees Near Crete
Welcome to this week's Planetwonk newsletter, which features a curated selection of insightful stories and updates.
Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen Rescues Refugees While Facing Greek Surveillance
The humanitarian aid ship Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, rescued four Sudanese refugees near Crete. The refugees were fleeing dire conditions in Libyan camps when their raft began sinking.
Shortly after the rescue, Madleen issued a distress call upon spotting a drone overhead, later identified as a Greek Coast Guard Heron. Although flying outside Greek territorial waters (about 68 km out), the drone’s presence spotlighted Greece’s robust surveillance efforts and the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding migration in the region.
Hunger Strike in Athens: Legal Battle for Asylum
Gunay Dag, a Turkish lawyer and political refugee, has entered Day 29 of a hunger strike in protest against the revocation of his asylum by Greek authorities. After fleeing political persecution in 2020 and securing asylum in 2022, Dag’s protection was abruptly withdrawn in April 2025 based on undisclosed “national security” concerns.
Represented by the Greek Council of Refugees (GCR), Dag’s appeal is set for June 27. His case sheds light on Greece’s increasing use of classified evidence in asylum decisions, raising alarms among rights advocates.
Medical Error Triggers Hospital Investigation
A 62-year-old woman remains in critical condition after receiving a blood transfusion intended for another patient at Tzaneio Hospital in Piraeus. The mistake, which occurred during a severely understaffed shift, led to multi-organ failure and a 5% chance of survival.
Authorities have launched a full internal investigation into whether hospital protocols were followed. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about dangerous understaffing in Greece’s public healthcare system.
Greek Household Wealth Soars, But Who Really Wins?
Greek household wealth hit record highs in 2024—but mostly due to skyrocketing real estate values, not income growth or savings. With 67.8% of wealth tied to property, paper prosperity has come at a price:
Young people are priced out of the housing market
Housing loans remain hard to access
Owners of aging, unrenovated homes gain little real benefit
Rental and purchase prices now consume up to 50% of household income
Despite the property boom—now valued at €777.85 billion, especially concentrated in Attica—government programs like My Home II have had limited impact. Meanwhile, the ENFIA property tax remains unchanged, providing little relief to struggling homeowners.
Explore Athens Beyond the Guidebooks
Visiting Athens soon? Dive deeper than ruins and museums with the Athens Social and Political Walk, an immersive experience that connects key moments in modern history with the city’s current social and political landscape.